Former UFC bantamweight kingpin Aljamain Sterling has issued a bold call to all the top featherweight prospects. Sterling last fought Brian Ortega in August 2025 and won by unanimous decision.
‘Funk Master’ is currently No. 5 on the list at 145 pounds and is hungry to return to the octagon in 2026. Previously, after beating Ortega, he had expressed his desire to fight for the title:
“I got down to featherweight. I think I did my thing against a really tough guy who fought for the title twice. Respect. Volkanovski is the damn man, but I’d like to get a chance to fight for the title again.”
Watch Aljamain Sterling’s comments below (2:14):
Aljamain Sterling has now called up Lerone Murphy, Yair Rodriguez and Movsar Evloev. During a conversation with Jake Noecker, the 36-year-old said:
“Lerone Murphy, I’m ready for you! February or March in your hometown. Bring the heat; I’m ready. Yair Rodriguez, I’m ready! Movsar Evloev, I won that fight! I’m ready for all you su*kers. Tell Dana White to get you ready. If you want to go to the White House, I’m going too. At the end of the day, I’m here to make some damn money, man.”
Check out Aljamain Sterling’s comments below:
Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy were expected to get a title shot next. However, the promotion chose Diego Lopes to turn it around with two-time and current UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski.
In the meantime, ‘The Great’ has asked Murphy and Evloev to fight each other and stay busy because a title shot will come sooner or later.
Aljamain Sterling defends former UFC featherweight champion
Former UFC featherweight and current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s performance was recently questioned by a fan who called Topuria the “Greatest Senior Citizen Hunter OAT.” The fan posted:
Ilia Topuria’s legacy is insane 🔥🔥 – 40 year old Josh Emmet (decision) – 35 year old recently KO’d Volk – Drained Max Holloway (40 year old of fighting age) – 36 year old washed Charles (almost lost to Chandler) – 37 year old Justin Gaethje (possible) Greatest Senior Citizen Hunter OAT⁉️⁉️
Topuria has put in a lot of work and Sterling does not consider the former’s performance to be insufficient. Therefore, ‘Funk Master’ clapped back to the fan’s perspective and wrote:
“What else is he supposed to do? Ask about a guy who just came from DWCS? Lol”
Watch the interaction below:
Topuria became UFC featherweight champion by knocking out ‘The Great’ in 2024, after which ‘El Matador’ defended his title by knocking out Max Holloway.
In 2025, Topuria vacated his 145-pound championship and moved up to 155 pounds. El Matador’ and Charles Oliveira fought for the vacant lightweight championship at UFC 317, and Topuria defeated the Brazilian in round 1 as he predicted.
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